Palestinians happy about U.N. vote, but some worry

Dec. 1, 2012
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Palestinians celebrate in the streets of the West Bank Thursday after the U.N. General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinian Authority's status to non-member observer state. / Uriel Sinai, Getty Images

by Sarah Lynch and Ruby Russell, Special for USA TODAY

by Sarah Lynch and Ruby Russell, Special for USA TODAY

CAIRO - The streets of the West Bank erupted in jubilant celebration following a U.N. General Assembly vote Thursday granting Palestine non-member state status by an overwhelming majority.

"We Palestinians are very happy. This vote means that we have a place under the sun," said Badia Dweik a community organizer from Hebron. "We are very thankful to all the countries who supported this vote - but we will also not forgot those who did not."

The vote was passed by 138 votes, with nine countries - including the U.S. and Israel - voting against, and 41 countries abstaining.

"People were following the vote very eagerly on the TV," said Sukrit Kapoor, a lawyer with the Palestinian Center for Human Rights on Gaza. "When it was announced, there were celebrations on the streets. People were having a good time.

"From people's reactions I would say they are very hopeful that this status will bring changes to the way the international community approaches the issue of Palestine," he said.

The United States and Israel said the only way for the Palestinians to get their own state is to agree to peace terms with Israel that guarantee its security. But many Palestinians saw the vote as a way to attack Israel legally.

Khalil Abu Shammala, director of the Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights in Gaza hopes that "Israeli crimes" will be investigated by the International Criminal Court.

"I should feel happy," he said of the vote. "(But) it depends on what is next. We have concerns over (President Mahmoud Abbas): Will he go to the ICC or not? Is he going to demand the attorney general to investigate the Israeli crimes? This is the most important thing that we are interested in."

But others did not believe the vote would make much difference.

"Not everyone agrees over the vote," said Ameer Jabreen, a student of urban studies at al Quds University in Jerusalem. "Some people really support it, and others are unconvinced."

Jabreen said the symbolism of the vote meant a lot to Palestinians, "but in terms of the implications on the ground, many people believe it won't make any real change. There is a big portion of Palestinians know that."

The vote has implications for ongoing rivalry between Hamas and Fatah. Hamas controls Gaza and refused to recognize Israel's right to exist, while Fatah, which controls the West Bank, has been in negotiations with Israel.

Some said they felt that reconciliation between the two could be close.

"This is a new achievement, new political progress for our president (Abbas)," said Gaza businessman Ali AbuShahla, director general of Consulting Engineers Co. Palestine. "He became stronger, as did Hamas after the war. Both are stronger now, both won something. That win-win equation is better now. â?¦ This will close the gap between both sides."